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2022: Dangote Industries Wins FMDQ Largest Corporate Lodgment Award

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…As Dangote Cement named Most Trusted Brand of the Year

 

In a blaze of honour, the Pan-African conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and its Africa’s leading cement manufacturer subsidiary, Dangote Cement Plc were adjudged the Largest Corporate Bond lodgment on FMDQ in gold category and the 2022 Most Trusted Brand of the Year respectively.

 

On the back of the Largest Corporate Bond lodgment on FMDQ award came another recognition with the Dangote Group named as the Most Outstanding Conglomerate in Environmental Sustainability.

 

The cement giant came tops in the stock market for its unprecedented N116 billion Series 2 Bond issuance back in May this year.

 

The FMDQ Gold Awards recognises excellence in Fixed Income, Currencies and Derivatives market. It also recognises demonstrated resilience and agility of the Nigerian financial markets participants and acknowledges the valuable efforts of the stakeholders and their participation in the FMDQ markets and across the financial market. It is also given to the corporate entity for the highest total bonds value admitted on FMDQ Depository.

 

During the annual Most Trusted Brand Award, organised by leading research firm Brand Health Ltd, Dangote Cement was chosen as the most trusted cement brand in a survey of 13,000 consumers.

 

The Chief Executive Officer, Brand Health Ltd, Emman Udowoima commended Dangote Cement for the achievement, describing it as a brand of trust and choice indeed. According to him “four out of ten consumers who took part in the study voted Dangote Cement as the Most Trusted Cement Brand in Nigeria. The popularity and the confidence in the brand is overwhelming as its closest rival scored just 12% while Dangote scored 41%.”

 

Other cement brands with substantial mentions scored between 3% and 8%. Some of the elements of the survey include questions like ‘the brand that you feel most confident in, the brand that offers you what you want, the brand that offers highest quality, the brand that is distinctive, and the brand you would recommend to your friends and relatives.

 

Udowoima stated that about 13,000 respondents participated in the 2022 survey and were interviewed across 12 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory. The States are: Lagos, Oyo, Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Plateau, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna and Kano and the respondents were drawn from both urban and rural communities.

 

The survey, he said, used quantitative method to elicit responses from the consumers, and also focused on such demographics as gender – Male 50%, Female 50%; Social Class: AB 15%, C1 C2 40%, DE 45%; Age: 18-25, 30%, 26-35, 30%, 36-50, 25%, 51+ 15%.

 

He explained that “The Most Trusted Brands (MTB)” Awards was instituted in 2010 to reward brands that keep promises to the consumers. The award is an enabler for brands to do more for consumers, knowing full well that consumers either reward or punish brands according to their experiences.

 

The Dangote Industries Limited also received the award of the Most Outstanding Conglomerate in Environmental Sustainability. The award was given by the Environmental Sustainability Conference, Expo and Awards (ECOSEA) initiated by Brand Communicator, a frontline brands and marketing publication.

 

Joshua Ajayi, the convener of the conference and awards said, “corporate sustainability practices evolved rapidly in the country’s business space, from just being a cosmetic charity activity into organised sustainability needs built into a vision with specific goals.”

 

The award, which took place during the celebration of the organisation’s World Environment Day recently also gathered the best sustainability players to discuss various issues in sustainability during the conference themed Only One Earth: Building a Safer Environment.

 

Dangote Industries, a fully diversified conglomerate with annual group turnover of US$4billion has invested heavily in building a sustainable business which cuts across Cement, Sugar, Salt, Petroleum, Fertiliser and food.

 

Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer at Dangote Industries thanked the organisers, describing the awards as another milestone in the Dangote Group’s business trajectory. He said it is a testament to the strategic business model being executed by the manufacturing giant, which is aimed at rejuvenating Nigeria’s economy and engendering developmental growth of Africa.

 

He expressed the assurance that the Dangote Group would not relent in its commitment to Africa’s development, adding that, “we will continue to impact lives positively through production of goods that meet the peoples’ need.”

BIG STORY

Presidency Releases Footage To Back Claim On Maersk’s $600m Investment [VIDEO]

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The presidency, on Wednesday, released a video to back its claim on securing a $600 million investment commitment from A.P Moller-Maersk, a Danish shipping company.

The minister of industry, trade, and investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, was informed in the video by Keith Svendsen, chairman of APM Terminals, that the corporation and its partners will invest $500 million, or half a billion dollars, in the Apapa ports.

Maersk’s subsidiary APM Terminals oversees container terminal operations and offers comprehensive inland and cargo services.

The video, which shows the minister, Svendsen, and other participants in the meeting, was uploaded on X formerly known as Twitter on February 9.

“We just finished the upgrading of Onne facility to meet world-class capabilities. So we invested over $100 million there,” Svendsen had said at the meeting.

“Our proposal is to upgrade the Apapa port facility with our partners there and invest half a billion ($500 million) in upgrading the facilities.”

In a statement on April 28, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said Nigeria secured a $600 million investment commitment from Maersk to expand existing ports infrastructure in the country.

Ngelale had said Robert Uggla, chairman of A.P Moller-Maersk, made the investment commitment during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Saudi Arabia.

However, in a report by Lloyd’s List on April 29, officials of the logistics firm said no $600 million investment deal was signed with the Nigerian government.

The officials of the company, according to the publication, said such a deal does not exist.

“Maersk has been present in Nigeria for 35 years and, as a global provider of logistics services, we remain committed to develop opportunities for growth to people, the port sector and businesses locally,” the company told Lloyd’s List.

“Therefore, it is natural to have an ongoing dialogue with the administration. However, we are not able to comment on any investment talks.”

Reacting to the development on May 1,  Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, also said no agreement was signed between the federal government and Maersk.

Citing Maersk’s statement, Onanuga said the company was unable to comment on investment talks, stressing that it did not also expressly deny that there was an investment discussion.

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14-Yr-Old Nigerian Boy Killed With Sword On London Street

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The teenager who died in Tuesday’s horrifying attack in east London has been identified by London’s Metropolitan Police, and he is Nigerian!

Fourteen-year-old Daniel Anjorin, a British-Nigerian, lost his life after he and two police officers were stabbed in an east London street attack by a guy brandishing a sword.

One male, age 36, has been taken into custody on charges of killing someone.

An injury to a 33-year-old man occurred when the suspect’s van collided with a Laing Close property, according to an official statement from the Metropolitan Police.

Subsequently, the suspect physically assaulted the victim, causing a wound to his neck.

Additionally, a 35-year-old man suffered lacerations to his arm during an assault inside a neighboring residence.

The Metropolitan Police have stated that although both victims’ injuries are serious, they are not considered to be life-threatening.

After this, the suspect proceeded to attack Anjorin.

“It is with great sadness that one of those injured in this incident… has died from his injuries,” Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell of London’s Metropolitan Police told reporters at the scene.

“He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died shortly afterwards.”

According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles III expressed disbelief at the stabbings and praised the bravery of the emergency services.

“His thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, particularly the family of the young victim who lost her life,” a spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a post on his X account that “such violence has no place on our streets.”

In an interview with LBC, Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said: “The first thing to say is to the parents involved, that they lost their 14-year-old son, and that is just horrible, and it is La everyone’s worst nightmare.

“I’m sure we’re all thinking about them.”

On the other hand, Holy Family Catholic School, where the teenager’s mother works, issued a statement.

“It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of the son of one of our staff members.

“Please keep Mrs. Anjorin, her husband and her other children in your prayers.”

One resident, who asked AFP not to be identified, recounted the experience of hiding behind a window while the suspect was outside her house, shouting: “Do you believe in God?” in the police.

“We were very scared and we were trying to hide and not show ourselves through the window because he was standing right next to our house and he could have seen us if he had looked up.”

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86 Rooms Where Tenants Paid N250,000 A Year Found Under Dolphin Estate Bridge [PHOTOS/VIDEO]

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The government found 86 divided rooms, measuring 10 by 10 and 12 by 10, beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, Lagos Island, according to Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources for Lagos State.

The improvised flat beneath the bridge is reportedly rented for N250,000 annually by tenants.

Wahab, on Wednesday, posted videos along with this information On X (formerly known as Twitter)

He went on to say that all of the constructions beneath the Dolphin Estate bridge had been successfully removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, including a container used for criminal activity.

Sharing videos he wrote, “A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

“They have all been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources”

A Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, further confirmed the eviction of squatters from beneath the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi over illegal settlement and environmental violations.

Rotimi-Akodu mentioned that 23 individuals were arrested during the eviction, which was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI on Tuesday.

He wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).

“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. 23 persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”

He also confirmed that the bridge has hitherto housed 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10 with squatters paying an average rent of N250,000 per annum.

“Continuation of the removal of abode under Dolphin bridge. 11 more persons were arrested. It is important to note that wood materials were used to construct the shelters, some occupants used gas cylinders, and some had stored fuel for their generators, these are recipes for disaster,” he added.

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